Cool Leaders Award
Why in News?
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cool Coalition officially launched and presented the very first edition of the Cool Leaders Award during the Global Cooling Pledge Assembly 2026 held in Singapore.
Objective and Vision
- Translating Commitments to Action: The primary aim is to accelerate the implementation of national targets under the Global Cooling Pledge (initially established at COP28).
- Combating Rising Heat Risks: It seeks to protect vulnerable communities from extreme heat and reduce reliance on mechanical cooling as the global stock of conventional cooling appliances is projected to triple by 2050.
- Focus Areas: The award celebrates cross-sectoral actions targeting energy-efficient technologies, nature-based solutions (like urban forests and green roofs), and passive cooling architectural design.
The 2026 Cool Leaders Award Winners
The inaugural edition recognized two countries and one corporate visionary across national, municipal, and individual categories:
The inaugural edition recognized two countries and one corporate visionary across national, municipal, and individual categories:
- Singapore: Honoured for its exemplary national leadership in implementing passive cooling strategies and pioneering long-term urban heat resilience infrastructure.
- United Arab Emirates (UAE): Recognized for its leadership in advancing large-scale district cooling systems and successfully embedding cooling sustainability into global climate and development policies.
- Dong Mingzhu (Chairperson of Gree Electric Appliances): Awarded under the Individual Leader category for spearheading the engineering of ultra-efficient, low-carbon cooling options, specifically their Zero Carbon Source air-conditioning system.
About the Organiser: UNEP Cool Coalition
- What it is: A global multi-stakeholder platform driving system-level change to deliver efficient, climate-friendly cooling solutions.
- Launch Year: It was established in 2019 as a flagship initiative under the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit.
- Network: It brings together over 250 actors, including national governments, municipal authorities, businesses, cities, and financial institutions.
- Global Alignment: Its goals are closely structured around the Paris Agreement, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
